New at Brick Architect

• Review: 2021 LEGO Advent Calendars
  We’ve put all five of the 2021 LEGO Advent calendars under the microscope to identify the three great ones, the one decent one, and the one calendar that dissapoints this year. Pick yours up before it’s too late!
• Review: Adidas Ultraboost DNA × LEGO Colors Shoes
  Here’s another brightly colored shoe in the growing LEGO × Adidas footwear line — let’s see if it’s a step-up from previous attempts…
• Update: LEGO ‘Powered Up’ Guide
  This guide is one of the most popular new resources at Brick Architect, so I updated it for 2021. The update adds four newly-released Powered Up parts, readability improvements, and a shopping guide.

Exciting new sets for AFOLs

The barrage of amazing LEGO sets continues in November and December, although several of these big-ticket sets are temporarily sold out.

• #45345 LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential Set
  The follow-up to the Spike Prime LEGO Education set for younger builders has arrived, and it includes three brand new LEGO Powered-up parts! (I suspect a similar set will replace LEGO BOOST in the consumer market next year.)
  449 pieces, $275, available now at LEGO.com
• #75313 AT-AT
  The third largest LEGO Set ties the Millenium Falcon for the most expensive.
  6785 pieces, $800, available November 26 at LEGO.com
• #10294 LEGO Titanic
  The real ship might have been a sinker, but the LEGO model has floated a lot of people’s boat.
  9090 pieces, $630, available now at LEGO.com
• #21330 LEGO Ideas Home Alone
  The 1990 holiday classic is brought to life in this captivating LEGO set, which offers an unusually good value at $0.06 per piece.
  3955 pieces, $250, available now at LEGO.com
• #76240 LEGO DC Batman Batmobile Tumbler
  This shapely (and spendy) set brings the man of bat’s iconic ride to life.
  2049 pieces, $230, available now at LEGO.com

Best articles from around the web

While there are always a lot of good articles about LEGO, there were a ton of great articles these past two months, especially nerdy articles about rare or new parts!

• LEGO Element Development: The Friends Hoop – Interview with Poul A. Thomsen
  Poul shares his background as an Element Developer, and some interesting design details for a new round Technic element which was actually introduced in the LEGO Friends line. It was interesting to learn how he wishes he could improve the part by using fewer pin injector points; an amazing attention to detail!
  —New Elementary
• Inside LEGO Masters: Building Behind the Scenes
  This interview With Emilio Mazur covers a range of topics, but naturally my favorite part is the discussion about how the parts in the Brick Pit were organized.
  —BrickNerd
• A history of farmyard animals
  Everyone loves LEGO animals! In this article, Huw walks through the history of moulded LEGO farm animals.
  —Brickset
• How Aaron Newman went from being a LEGO fan to a LEGO set designer
  LEGO Masters propelled Aaron to fame in the USA, but this is just part of his journey from AFOL to a LEGO Set Designer.
  —Brothers Brick
• LEGO Extended Line: Designer interview with Mel Caddick
  Mel is a Senior Designer on the Extended Line team. Her team tackles a wide range of products including many of the seasonal sets, gift-with-purchase sets, some of the Brickheadz, keychains, and more (such as the Wooden Minifigure, and the IKEA BYGGLEK collaboration.) She highlights some of the similarities and differences compared to working on a specific theme.
  —New Elementary
• Sorting, Schmorting: Creativity and Chaos
  A rambling discussion with lots fo great photos about when and how to sort, and how keeping incomplete models lying around can inspire creativity.
  —BrickNerd

Best podcast episodes:

As always, here are some of the best audio-based stories that I’ve heard recently. Happy Listening!

• Episode 186: Art of the Brick (29:13)
  Nathan Sawaya is a serious sculptor who uses LEGO bricks as his medium. Here about his journey from Lawyer to Professional Artist in this short interview.
  —Imaginary Worlds
• Signe Lønholdt, Head of Community Growth, LEGO (1:08:44)
  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Signe at the LEGO Fan Media Days. Even in our short conversation, I learned that she has a deep knowledge for self reflection and personal excellence. You can learn both about her role at The LEGO Group, and her investment philosophy in this in-depth interview.
  —I’m That, with Eitan Chitayat
• #1 – Finding Julia Morgan (40:45)
  Best known for her iconic design for the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California, you will learn a lot more about her impressive career in this episode! (It’s the inagural episode of a new podcast series which aims to tell the stories of “Pioneering Women of American Architecture”.)
  —New Angle: Voice

Brick Architect in the news

• Lego Isn’t Just for Kids. Here’s How to Become an Adult Lego Master
  I somehow missed this lengthy article about all-things-LEGO from back in June. The article recommends both the LEGO Storage Guide, and LEGO Brick Labels; cool!
  —Wirecutter